The world's largest aircraft - which is 60 feet longer than the biggest passenger jet - has completed its first ever flight
The world's largest aircraft just took its first ever voyage.
The Airlander 10 - or Martha Gwyn, as it is officially known - is part-plane, part-airship, and part-helicopter.
The aircraft took off from an airfield in Bedfordshire on Wednesday (August 17), circling the air for 20 minutes before landing in the same spot, CNN reports.
Built by Bedford-based manufacturer Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), the £25 million aircraft is 302 feet long, making it around 60 feet longer than the world's largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, which spans nearly 240 feet.
The airship was due to fly for the first time on Sunday, but was delayed by three days because of a "technical issue" that couldn't be resolved in time for a daylight flight.
Though it is not allowed to fly at night during its test stage, the aircraft managed to take off from Cardington Airfield before sunset at 7:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
HAV chief executive officer Stephen McGlennan told Sky News that the airship could "operate very happily" in 80 knots of wind.
"Think of a big helicopter, a really giant helicopter," he said. "This can do the same thing that a helicopter can do - that's to say, provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway - but this thing can take more over longer distances, it's cheaper and it's greener."
Crowds gathered and cheered at Cardington Airfield to see the aircraft take to the skies for the very first time.
The aircraft was first developed for the US government as a surveillance aircraft, but cutbacks to defence meant the project was put on hold.
HAV launched a campaign to revive the Airlander 10 last year. The aircraft manufacturer said on Twitter that it has made "well over 100 changes" to the original US ship since taking over the project. The huge aircraft will be able to stay airborne for as long as five days, and can be used to deliver aid or for surveillance.
The blimp-like airship hasn't just attracted the public's attention due to its record size. Noticing its curvaceous shape, the media has nicknamed the aircraft the "flying bum."
